BCL: Rytas Vilnius reaches the sky at the Olimpic Arena after an epic final
Rytas Vilnius were crowned champions of the 2026 Basketball Champions League in Badalona after a historic comeback in a Final Four that turned the Olimpic Arena into the main epicentre of European basketball over the weekend. The tournament, held in one of the most iconic venues in continental and Olympic basketball, delivered an electric atmosphere and memorable individual performances that strengthened Badalona’s international reputation as a basketball city.
Badalona, European capital of basketball
The Badalona Final Four thus delivered an unexpected champion, a historic comeback, and several players who used the European stage to showcase themselves at the highest level.
With a final score of 86-92: Rytas Vilnius crowned after a historic comeback
The Lithuanian side recovered an 18-point deficit in the final quarter and defeated AEK in overtime in an incredible final.
The Olimpic Arena, stage of an unforgettable final
Rytas Vilnius arrived at the Champions Final Four in Badalona with a fast-paced style based on tempo and rebounding. Beyond the game itself, the Lithuanian side found in the Olimpic Arena in Badalona the perfect setting to write a historic chapter. In a venue with a strong international legacy and an electric atmosphere, the team showed unwavering belief to complete an epic comeback and defeat AEK 86-92 after a memorable overtime, in one of the most unpredictable endings ever seen in the competition.
The Olimpic shone in all its splendour, enhanced by a major production and powerful lighting that highlighted its capabilities to the world and proved why it is a versatile and iconic venue and a home of great moments both in sport and entertainment.
